Rep. Tom O’Halleran defeats Wendy Rogers in close race for CD1

We invited a group of independent voters to the azcentral studio to talk about how they're feeling this election. Are negative ads turning them off? Will Kyrsten Sinema or Martha McSally get their support? We asked and they answered.
William Flannigan and Diana Payan, Arizona Republic

Democrat Tom O’Halleran defeated Republican Wendy Rogers, winning a second term in Congress and ensuring his party holds five of the state's nine House seats.

Unofficial returns in the sprawling 1st Congressional District that spans northeastern Arizona show the moderate freshman pulled away from Rogers, who failed again in her fourth bid for federal office.

Rogers built her campaign around her support for President Donald Trump and vowed to be his ally in building a border wall and halting illegal immigration.

But O’Halleran, who is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, could claim a constructive relationship with the president and sounded a message intended to appeal to a broader slice of the electorate.

"I think our House margin is going to be enough to accomplish some tasks," O'Halleran said. "I hope it brings a process that's more bipartisan, that more people are brought to the table with more transparency."

He has amassed one of the more Trump-friendly records in the House and is a former Republican state lawmaker.

Trump even had charitable words for O’Halleran during an October visit to Luke Air Force Base, while Rogers, a retired Air Force pilot, could not win stage time at a political rally with the president in Mesa the same night.

Trump eyed O’Halleran sitting off to the side of the executives and Republicans assembled at a table with him at Luke.

“What are you doing over there Tom? You can join us even though you’re a Democrat.”

With no primary opponent and two years to raise money as an incumbent, O’Halleran had a sizable financial advantage over Rogers.

He also benefited from significant spending by Democratically-aligned outside groups who reminded voters in the rural district that Rogers in 2012 said she viewed Social Security as unconstitutional and favored privatizing the program.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich speaks with supporters after making his victory speech during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

David Garcia, Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, hugs his children as he exits the stage at the election night watch party on Nov. 6, 2018, at the Renaissance Hotel in Phoenix. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018. Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018. Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic

Greg Stanton, Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative of Arizona's 9th Congressional District gives, his victory speech along with his family at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Nov. 6, 2018. Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks as Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Senator John McCain looks on during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks to supporters Nov. 6, 2018, during the Arizona Republican Party Election Night party in Scottsdale. Ducey won his re-election against Democratic challenger David Garcia. Michael Chow/The Republic

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks as Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Senator John McCain looks on during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Gov. Doug Ducey speaks as Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Sen. John McCain looks on during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb (left) talks to fellow Republicans at the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Conservative television host Josh Bernstein and Laurie Gonzalez watch early election results at the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republican James Murr of Scottsdale watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republicans Michael Jabri of Phoenix (left) of Phoenix and Ashur Warda of Peoria watch early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republican Ashur Warda (center) of Peoria watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republican Stephen Fischer of Surprise watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republicans Michael Jabri of Phoenix (left) of Phoenix and Ashur Warda of Peoria watch early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republican Ashur Warda (center) of Peoria watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republican Stephen Fischer of Surprise watches early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Republicans Michael Jabri of Phoenix (left) of Phoenix and Ashur Warda of Peoria watch early results during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

U.S. Representative David Schweikert speaks during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

U.S. Representative David Schweikert speaks as his wife, Joyce, kisses their daughter, Olivia, during the Republican watch party at the DoubleTree Resort in Scottsdale on Election Day for the midterms on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Rudy Rangel (left) and Bryan Mulloy help themselves to pizza while waiting in line to vote at the Tempe History Museum in Ariz. Nov. 6, 2018. An anonymous person bought pizza for people in line. Michael Chow/The Republic

Arizona State University student Alex Riordan (left) and other ASU students wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018. Riordan is a first time voter. David Wallace/The Republic

Greg Stanton, a Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Arizona's 9th Congressional District, shakes hands with Arizona State University students as they wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Arizona State University student Urban Stewart (center right) high fives other ASU students as they wait in line to vote at the polling place at ASU's Tempe campus on Nov. 6, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Students at Arizona State University's Tempe campus were sent free pizza from Twitter users and the Arizona Democratic Party while waiting in line to vote on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2018. Lily Altavena/The Republic

Students at Arizona State University's Tempe campus were sent free pizza from Twitter users and the Arizona Democratic Party while waiting in line to vote on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2018. Lily Altavena/The Republic

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Workers moved the polling site to the south side of the building in an empty suite, Nov. 6, 2018. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Workers moved the polling site to the south side of the building in an empty suite, Nov. 6, 2018. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Workers moved the polling site to the south side of the building in an empty suite, Nov. 6, 2018. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Voters wait in line near the Gila polling site in Chandler. The poll workers were locked out of the site after the tenant did not pay their rent. Poll workers set up a temporary location in front of a nearby store, Nov. 6, 2018. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Inspector Eileen Wendt looks at a sign from the landlord that says the tenant did not pay rent and the locks have been changed preventing access to the Gila polling place in Chandler, Nov. 6, 2018. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

By contrast, Rogers received little help from Republicans, many of whom again wrote off the seat after GOP voters selected a candidate with a past easily attacked by Democrats.

In 2016, for example, Democrats blitzed former Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu over his ties to a Massachusetts school for troubled youths. It helped O’Halleran win that race by 7 percentage points.

Democrats have now won the 1st District five of the past six elections.

The district has been a constant disappointment for Republicans. It has broad swaths of older and rural voters. Overall, it voted for Trump by 1 percentage point in 2016.

Still, in a year when the GOP was defending its House majority across the country, there was little financial interest in trying to boost a three-time loser easily cast as out of step on an issue as important as Social Security.

NEWSLETTERS

Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox

We're sorry, but something went wrong

Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you

Rogers ran a stealth campaign, backing out of an October televised debate with O’Halleran, while trying to hang him with the nickname “Invisible Tom,” to suggest he had paid little attention to the district.

The 1st District includes parts of 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties and runs from the Utah border down to Tucson's outskirts. About a quarter of its residents are Native American. Democrats have a 5-percentage point registration advantage there.

VOTING PROBLEMS? We’re part of ProPublica's Electionland project, a collaboration of newsrooms across the country tracking voting problems on Election Day. You can help us by signing up now. Text VOTE to 81380. You can also use WhatsApp to contact us at 1-850-909-8683 or reach us through Facebook Messenger here: http://m.me/electionland.